An exhibition devoted to David Hockney’s lifelong love of reproduction opens this autumn at the Manship Artists Residency in Gloucester. Hockney Reproduction(s) runs from September 11 to October 18, 2026, and it draws on nearly 90 posters alongside prints, books, multi-page faxes, photographs, and other works spanning six decades of the artist’s career.
The thesis behind the show is straightforward: Hockney did not regard printing as merely an ancillary activity. Instead, he considered it central to his artistic practice throughout his career. The exhibition’s argument is that reproduction ran as a constant thread through his work, from the time when photocopiers and fax machines first entered his studio to the arrival of the iPhone.
Hockney’s Own Words on Printing
Hockney’s own views about the medium anchor the exhibition throughout. A quote from the artist serves as the foundation for the entire undertaking.
“I’ve always been interested in printing as a medium and also as a medium through which my work can be known — can reach a public. So, I’ve taken an interest in any technology to do with image-making: printing, cameras, reproduction itself. Lots of artists aren’t interested… but I am interested.”
The program pairs that quote with a wealth of supporting evidence spanning many years. The exhibition draws on pieces from the Bing McGilvray collection, along with items from other private collections, as well as generous contributions from the David Hockney Foundation (UK) and Salts Mill, Yorkshire, UK, among other friends.
The Curator Behind the Show
The driving force behind the exhibition is Bing McGilvray, the 2025 Manship Resident Artist, a creator, curator, and writer who has been Hockney’s friend for over forty-five years.
McGilvray describes Hockney’s approach to new technology with warmth. “David was endlessly curious,” he says. “Whenever a new technology appeared, he wasn’t interested in whether it was fashionable, he wanted to know what it could do visually. He saw uses for new technology that the inventors could not have imagined.”
What the Exhibition Covers
Over the course of six decades, the exhibition follows David Hockney’s relationship with copying, starting with his use of photocopiers and fax machines and carrying on through the iPhone era.
The show features prints, books, multi-page faxes, photographs, and more than 90 posters. Together they illustrate how reproduction operated as a driving influence on the artist’s work.
Hockney’s International Reputation
This exhibition makes the case that Hockney’s career has been shaped by reproduction, which it presents as a thread running through his work from the beginning to the present day. The artist is known worldwide for his paintings and drawings.
New technologies were not seen as substitutes for traditional media by him; instead, they were viewed as chances to see things anew, to communicate in fresh ways, and to connect with an expanding audience.
The Public Opening
From September 11 through October 18, the show is set to run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with doors opening at 1PM and closing at 5PM.
The Manship Artists Residency website is where timed-entry tickets can be secured.
Free Admission
The Manship Artists Residency presented this exhibition without cost to visitors, and it was made possible through generous support from The David Hockney Foundation (UK), which assisted in bringing it to fruition.
Key Facts Box
- Exhibition: Hockney Reproduction(s)
- Artist: David Hockney (1937-2026)
- Dates: September 11 – October 18, 2026
- Hours: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 1PM – 5PM
- Location: Manship Artists Residency, Gloucester, MA
- Works on view: Nearly 90 posters, plus prints, books, multi-page faxes, photographs
- Supporter: The David Hockney Foundation (UK)
The Through-Line Argument
The exhibition argues that reproduction was not a side project in David Hockney’s career. Instead, it was a central force shaping his practice.
Six decades of Hockney’s work reveal a consistent thread: embracing new technologies as chances to see things differently, communicate in new ways, and reach a growing audience.
The Bottom Line
The exhibition takes a close, selective look at a particular part of David Hockney’s career, presenting it with clear organization and attention to detail.
The exhibition matches Hockney’s own remarks about printing and picture-making with examples of his output spanning many years, from faxed pages to digital prints. It contends that reproduction did not sit at the edges of his career but shaped it centrally.
This autumn, Gloucester has an exhibition worth visiting, and it is free to see. Booking your place online takes little effort.
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